Proverbs for LifeThe book of the Proverbs presents a number of truths concerning that upon which we should or should not set our love, and concerning the manner in which we are to love. In this first part of the study, let us consider that upon which we should, or should not, set our love.

1. We should not continue to love the selfishness of spiritual immaturity.Proverbs 1:22 – “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”2. Rather, we should continually love the spiritual wisdom of God’s Word.Proverbs 4:5-9 – “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”Proverbs 8:17-21 – “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” Proverbs 19:8 – “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.”Proverbs 29:3 – “Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.” 3. We should love the reproofs of instruction that we may grow in spiritual wisdom.Proverbs 12:1 – “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.” 4. We should love, not hate, those who present the reproofs of wise instruction.Proverbs 9:8 – “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”Proverbs 15:10, 12 – “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die . . . . A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.” 5. We should not love stirring up or pursuing after strife, for it will lead to transgression.Proverbs 17:19 – “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.”6. We should be careful about loving to talk, for we must partake of its fruits.Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”7. We should not love rest, relaxation, and recreation, for such will bring us to poverty.Proverbs 20:13 – “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.”Proverbs 21:17 – “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.”